What is I-O?

Industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology is the scientific study of working and the application of that science to workplace issues facing individuals, teams, and organizations.
The scientific method is applied to investigate issues of critical relevance to individuals, businesses, and society.

2013 Conference Proposal Format Requirements & Session Types

The SIOP program has different session types (e.g., Posters, Symposium/Forum). Each session type has a specific format. Your proposal must adhere to the format requirements described below. The number of participants described for each session type should serve as a guideline only.

SESSION TYPES

Debate. The debate session is an effective way to present opposing views about a topic. We strongly encourage submissions of this type for the 2013 conference. The participant composition and format of the debate can vary. Generally, it can include a moderator and either one or two people to represent each side of a controversial topic within I-O Psychology. The debate may consist of the moderator stating a position, one side presenting arguments that affirm the proposition, and the other side presenting arguments against the proposition. Alternatively, the moderator may pose pointed questions to the debaters, whereby they each share their conflicting views of the specific issue under consideration. Time for rebuttal and audience questions can be incorporated into the session. At the end of the session, the moderator can sum up the main points of the session. When submitting a debate proposal, be sure to include a statement of the I-O topic to be debated, information about the participant composition and format of the debate, descriptions of the major points likely to be argued by each side or the questions that will be posed to the debaters, and information about the debaters’ expertise and general perspective on the focal topic. Submissions that do not have at least two presenters with different affiliations in the session will not be accepted (i.e., every presenter cannot be from the same institution).

Debate Submission Requirements

A summary with a minimum of 900 words to a maximum of 3,000 words (excluding references) that describes the session in enough detail so reviewers can evaluate it effectively

Symposium/Forum. A Symposium/Forum is a multi-presenter session. This session type welcomes all submissions that in past years were submitted as: (a) Symposium; (b) Practice Forum; (c) Academic-Practitioner Collaborative Forum; (d) Education, Teaching, and Learning Forum; and (e) Theoretical Advancement. Any multi-presenter session including research, practice, theory, or teaching-oriented content should be submitted here. Participants in a Symposium/Forum should include a chairperson and three to four presenters. A Symposium/Forum often includes discussants, but it does not have to do so. We encourage submissions in which diverse and novel perspectives are presented, including sessions in which the audience plays the role of discussant and the chair facilitates the discussion. Stand-alone papers are not assigned to symposia; such papers should be submitted as posters.

Although individual presentations within a Symposium/Forum may have all authors from the same institution, the overall session must contain presenters from at least two different affiliations so that sessions do not become “advertisements” for products or research programs from a single company or academic program. The program is intended to be science-based and inclusive for all participants. Sufficient time should be allotted for audience participation. It is assumed that the first author indicated on a submission will serve as the actual presenter at the SIOP conference.

Symposium/Forum Submission Requirements:

50-word abstract

100-word press paragraph (see press paragraph guidelines below)

750-word (excluding references) general summary

1000-word summary (excluding references) detailing each presentation’s contribution, including a description of data and analyses where appropriate

Includes either 3 or 4 presentations (excluding discussant or interaction with audience)

May include one or more discussants but is not required (note: discussants cannot discuss their own papers)

If a discussant is included, a summary of the discussant’s comments is not needed

Does not need to be prepared for blind review

Examples of submissions

A bundle of presentations discussing actual or potential work implementing I-O techniques or addressing I-O issues in organizations. These might include discussing challenges in the work environment and innovative solutions to these challenges using the principles of I-O psychology.

A bundle of presentations discussing empirical work or a combination of empirical and theoretical work about a common topic or research question.

A bundle of presentations discussing new teaching methods and techniques, the measurement of teacher competence, teaching skills, methods to foster student learning, the assessment of student learning, and so forth. Participants also may discuss challenges unique to an educational environment or share research and applications in educational institutions.

A bundle of presentations proposing new or discussing existing theoretical work.

A bundle of presentations focusing on a single collaboration or on multiple collaborative efforts between academics and practitioners. The focus could be on the issues related to conducting such collaborations or the results of such collaborations.

Roundtable/Conversation Hour. The typical approach for this session type is to have one or two experts on a focal scientific or practical I-O topic serve as hosts. Members of the audience are typically seated in a circle to facilitate their active participation in the discussion with the hosts and with each other. The purposes of this session type include helping attendees with problems they are currently facing, discussing the latest developments in an area, and/or developing contacts with people who have similar interests. Proposals for roundtables/conversation hours should provide a focal topic, describe why it would be an appropriate topic for this session type, list one or two committed experts to serve as hosts, and provide background information about the expertise of each host on the focal topic. Although the expert(s) may wish to make a short presentation to begin the session, the majority of time should be devoted to answering questions from the audience and/or promoting discussion and networking.

Roundtable/Conversation Hour Submission Requirements:

50-word abstract

100-word press paragraph (see press paragraph guidelines below)

A summary with a minimum of 900 words to a maximum of 3,000 words (excluding references) that describes the session in enough detail so reviewers can evaluate it effectively

In general, the summary should specify the purpose(s) of the session, the focal I-O topic under consideration, and the expertise of the host(s) on the focal topic

Does not need to be prepared for blind review

(Click here for an example of a Roundtable/Conversation Hour submission)

Master Tutorial. The primary purpose of the Master Tutorial is to develop and educate the audience about a focal I-O topic. As examples, tutorials might be developed to provide an update on a specified content area, discuss a new statistical technique, or describe how knowledge from another discipline can be applied to an I-O problem or topic. Topics that are not appropriate include descriptions of products that the presenter is marketing. Proposals for tutorials should describe the specific content to be taught in the tutorial and indicate whether the coverage of the material will be basic or advanced. If appropriate and in accordance with APA requirements, as a service to our members, continuing education credit (CE credit) will be offered for participation in these sessions. For this reason, all Master Tutorials must be 80 minutes long. In addition, to facilitate this process, all submissions for Master Tutorials must include 3–4 learning objectives (e.g., “Participants will be able to identify the various antecedents and consequences of counterproductive work behavior”) and curricula vitae for all presenters.

Master Tutorial Submission Requirements

50-word abstract

100-word press paragraph (see press paragraph guidelines below)

A summary with a minimum of 900 words to a maximum of 3,000 words (excluding references & vitae) that describes the session in enough detail so reviewers can evaluate it effectively

The summary should include the learning objectives for the session and the curricula vitae of the presenters

Panel Discussion. In a Panel Discussion, the chairperson plays a very active role, serving as the moderator who asks questions of the panelists and ensures that all panelists (three to five people) have the opportunity to speak. Panel Discussions should generate spontaneous interaction among panelists and between panelists and the audience. Diversity among panelists is important to the success of the session. Further, all panelists must recognize the need for advance preparation. A Panel Discussion proposal should describe the questions that will be addressed by the panel, the underlying issues or themes to be discussed, and the structure or format of the session. Submissions that do not have at least two presenters with different affiliations in the session (i.e., every presenter cannot be from the same institution) will not be accepted.

Panel Discussion Submission Requirements:

50-word abstract

100-word press paragraph (see press paragraph guidelines below)

A summary with a minimum of 900 words to a maximum of 3,000 words (excluding references) that describes the session in enough detail so reviewers can evaluate it effectively

Poster. Several poster sessions will be organized to give participants opportunities to present individual papers. Poster sessions will be 50 minutes long. At each poster session, many authors simultaneously present their papers, primarily in a visual medium, with key excerpts from the papers displayed on large boards (8’ x 4’). The audience circulates among posters and stops to discuss papers of particular interest with the authors. Papers submitted for poster presentation must represent completed work and be prepared according to instructions provided in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition. Please note that non-empirical submissions advancing theoretical propositions ARE permitted. Top posters will again be featured this year during an evening social hour. No audiovisual equipment or electricity will be available for Poster Sessions.

There are two unique considerations associated with poster submissions.

The John C. Flanagan Award for Best Student Presentation at the SIOP Conference. The John C. Flanagan Award was established to recognize the best student contribution at the SIOP conference. Poster submissions whose first author is a student are automatically considered for the Flanagan award. To qualify for the Flanagan Award, a student must, at the time of the paper’s submission, (a) have a paid Student Affiliate membership in SIOP, (b) be enrolled in a PhD program, and (c) be the first author of the paper submitted. In the case of multiple authors, order of authorship should reflect the relative scientific or professional contributions of the individuals involved (see Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition).

Interactive Poster Sessions. An Interactive Poster Session is a dynamic forum among presenters, a facilitator, and the audience, intended to encourage discussion and sharing of multiple perspectives. Each Interactive Poster Session highlights approximately four posters with a common theme. The first part of the session functions similarly to traditional poster sessions, with audience members viewing posters and interacting with the authors. During the second part of the session, a facilitator will lead the audience and authors in an informal discussion of the posters and the broader topical area. Posters and topic areas for the Interactive Poster Sessions are selected by the Program Committee (not the poster submitter) from the pool of posters accepted to the conference. Authors who do not wish their posters to be considered for an interactive session should indicate this in the "Special Requests" section when the poster is submitted. Opting out of the pool for an interactive session does not have any impact on the likelihood of a poster being accepted to the conference.

Poster Format Submission Requirements:

50-word abstract

100-word press paragraph (see press paragraph guidelines below)

A complete paper with a maximum of 3,000 words

References, tables, and figures do not count toward the 3,000 word limit, but appendices do count toward the limit

This format must be prepared for blind review. Omit names that could identify the author(s). Also, go to "Properties" in the file menu, click on the summary tab, and delete any identifiers.

Other Session Types. The Program Committee welcomes proposals for other engaging session types. To submit a proposal for a new type of session, choose the above session type that is closest to what you want to do, complete the submission, and then e-mail program chair, Eden King (program@siop.org) to explain the novel session type.